Fire extinguishing apparatus



April 1937. s E. ALLEN 2,076,692

FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS Filed Sept 8, 1934 I INVENTOR Patented Apr. 13, 1937 r I STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,076,692 FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS Scott E. Allen, Glen Ridge, N; J., assignor to -0- Two Fire Equipment Company, Newark, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application September 8, 1934, Serial No. 743,233 13 Claims. (01. 169-41) The present invention relates to fire extinguish- In the accompanying drawing:

ing systems employing highly compressed gas, Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view in such, for instance, as carbon dioxide, in which side elevation of a fire extinguishing system eman initial discharge of large volume is followed bodying my invention;

by an auxiliary discharge. Such systems are Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section of a timing 5 particularly useful in protecting enclosures from device employed in said system; which gas has limited egress. The initial charge Fig. 3 is a plan view or the timing device; and is adapted to establish quickly a fire extinguish- Fig. 4 is a detail view in longitudinal section ing atmosphere in the enclosure so as to put out of a modified form of control valve. fire therein, and thereafter, by feeding extinguish- An enclosure I9 is indicated in Figure 1 from 10 ing gas into the enclosure at a rate suflicient which gas has limited egress. To protect this to compensate for such egress, said extinguishenclosure 2. supply of highly compressed fire exing atmosphere is maintained for a period long tinguishing fluid is provided. In the drawing, enough to prevent reignition. Unless an extinthis supply is indicated as consisting of a pair guishing atmosphere is maintained reignition of cylinders ll containing carbon dioxide lique- 15 might occur if the enclosure containscertain mafled under pressure. chinery, such as an electric generator, which can- Each cylinder is provided with a discharge head not be stopped abruptly and may continue to rol2 which may be of a standard construction, tate for a long period under its own momentum with means for releasing the fluid from the cyland which might fan the fire into life again. inders either automatically or manually. In Fig- 30 Such a fire extinguishing system as described lire this means is S w as consisting of a d above is disclosed in Patent No. 1,969,869, issued ar e l v r 3. p in f m ach discha August 14 1934 In t pecific embodiment head 12, said levers being connected to a common scribed in said patent there are successive disrope M which passes v a pu ey 5 and as a charges of extinguishing fluid at time controlled Weight attached its extremity- Normally 25 intervals. In a copending application Serial No. the rope is relieved of the load of Weight by a 610,066, filed May 9, 1932, is disclosed another line attached to the Weight at one end and system in which there is a substantially simulh at its opposhe end over a Pin taneous discharge into the enclosure from two pm forms an extehsmh of h core of solehohl sources, the relative volumes of the sources and so that when, the soleholh actuate? it Wm 30 their relative rates of discharge being so proporwlthdraw Pm P the welght tioned that gas from one source will quickly cregig i g fgizigg g ggifi iig i ig gzgigs ate fire emmgmshmg atmosphere m the from the cylinders H. A handle 20 connected closure and fluid will continue to flow from the to the pin or core '8 y be manually Operated M ma, V 00 other source in sufficient quantity to maintain to release the Weight '6 whenever desired.

said atmosphere for a substantial period after To effect automatic release of the Weight when ZEZ SS from the first source has Substantially the temperature in the enclosure l0 rises to a An bjpct of the present invention is to dangerous po1nt,I provide a thermostatic switch 4 T 2| in the enclosure H] which normally interrupts 40 vide a still difierent method of and means for the energizing circuit 22 of the Solenoid but Protectmg an enclosure from which gas has which will complete this circuit when predeterited egress. I mined dangerous temperature conditions occur in V A more Speclhh oblect' of the lhvhhtloh is to the enclosure. Obviously, any kind of a thermo- 1 provlde a Very slmple System 1h whlch Smgle static control may be employed to effect ener- 45 source of supply may be employed not only for gization f the solenoid the initial discharge to establish a fire extinguishw e discharge heads 2 are operated fluid ing atmosphere but also to supply the enclosure fr m the containers 11 discharge into, with as at a educ d a e ov a long period so duit 23 leading therefrom. to the enclosure in. 0 as to compensate for such egress. This conduit is normally open so that the'fluid Other objects and adv a s of y entio will discharge directly into the enclosure [0. will pp in the fOllOWing description of a p However, a valve 25 is provided in the conduit ferred embodiment and thereafter the novelty at a suitable point and preferably near the enand scope of the invention will be pointed out in closure ID. This valve is of the rotary plug type, the claims. comprising a plug 26 to which is fixed a sector 21.

' the top of the cylinder 35 so piston 34 to an extent r fluid coming through the of it will An actuating rope 28 passes about the sector and is attached to the periphery thereof at 29.' One endoi this rope is connected to a weight 30 while the opposite end is provided with a hook 3| which engages a stem 32 projecting from a timing device 33.

The interior of the timing device is shown in Fig. 2. The stem 32 is fixed at its lower end to a piston 34 which has a close sliding fit in a cylinder 35. A spring 36 normally holds this piston in raised position. A ring 31 is threaded into the lower end of the cylinder and provides an adjustable stop to limit depression of the piston 34. The timing device also includes an oil reservoir 38 which is connected to the lower end of the cylinder 35 by a passage 39. A needle valve 49 is provided to close this passage to any degree desired.

A branch line 4| leads from the conduit 23 to that when the fluid is admitted into the conduit it will depress the piston 34. In the line 4| there is a pressure regulator 42. A quantity of oil is maintained in the timing device and this resists depressionof the controlled by the adjust! ment of the needle valve 46, for as the piston 34 is lowered it will displace oil from the cylinder 35', forcing the displaced oil through passage 39. and past the needle valve into the reservoir 38. A vent 43 is provided to release air that may be trapped in the reservoir. It will be'understood thatthe piston 34 makes a very close fit with the cylinder 35, being provided with piston rings 44, and the stem 32 is provided with a stumng box 45 so as to prevent escape of fluid under pressure introduced through the pipe 4|. 7

A branch line 45 extends from the conduit 23 on the upstream side of the valve 2 into the enclosure lll. This branch line may either be of such reduced diameter as to feed a very small stream of fluid into the enclosure l0 or it may be provided with a nozzle 41 adapted to reduce the jet of discharging fluid to the desired propor tions. It will be understood that the supply of line 46 may be adjusted by the selection of a nozzle 4'! of proper size to compensate for gas that may escape from the conduit I0.

In operation when there is a fire in the enclosure |0the fluid from containers II is either automatically or manually released into the conduit 23. This fluid will flow freely through the open valve 25 into the enclosure, although a part pass through the line 46 into the enclosure. A fire extinguishing atmosphere will thus be created very quickly in the enclosure Hi. In the meantime, part of the fluid under pressure of the regulator 42 will enter the top of cylinder 45, forcing the piston 34 downward at a rate controlled by the setting of needle valve 40. When the piston' reaches the bottom of its stroke the stem 32 will be'withdrawn from the hook 3|, releasing the rope 28 and permitting the weight 30 to close the valve 25. In this way, the main dis charge will be terminatedand thereafter the discharge will be continuedthrough line 46 at a rate suflicient to compensate for losses of gas from the enclosure Ill so as to maintain the fire extinguishing atmosphere therein.

If for any reason the timing device should fail to operate satisfactorily the hook 3| may be manually released from the stem 32 by operating V lever 48 to push thehook clear of the stem.

If d esired, the auxiliary line 46 and 41 may be 75 dispensed with-and the flow of fluid at reduced rate into the enclosure |0 may be controlled by the control valve 25. In such case, the valve is provided with a plug 26a, Fig. 4, having a main discharge duct 50 therethrough for the normal passage of fluid and an auxiliary duct 5| disposed at right angles to the passage 50. The duct 5| is of greatly reduced diameter so that only a small flow of fluid will pass therethrough.

Fig. 4 shows the position of the plug 26a after the timing mechanism has been operated to re lease the weight 30 and swing the plug through an angle of 90 degrees.

has been established in the enclosure H), the only passage for the fluid is through the duct 5| and consequently the flow is abruptly reduced by the turning of the valve to an amount which at least will compensate for the limited egress from the enclosure. Y

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention and a modification thereof, it will be understood that these are to be taken as illustrative and not limitative of my invention and that I reserve the right to makevarious changes in form, construction, and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as pointed out in the following claims.-

I claim: 1. A fire extinguishing apparatus for protecting an enclosure from which gas may have limited egress, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a conduit leading into the enclosure, means for supplying the conduit, with fire extinguishing fluid which is gaseous at normal atmospheric pressures and temperatures from a supply of the fluid which is considerably in excess ofthat necessary to establish a fire extinguishing atmosphere'in the enclosure, the conduit being constructed and arranged to discharge the fluid at a rate sufficient to establish quickly said fire extinguishing atmosphere, a normally open valve controlling discharge of the conduit, means normally restraining the flow to said normally open valve but operable to permit such flow when a fire occurs, means for closing the valve after said fire extinguishing atmosphere has been established, and means for continuing the dis-' charge of said fluid into the enclosure thereafter at a materially reduced rate suflicient'however to compensate for said egress.

2. A fireextinguishing apparatus for protecting an enclosure from which gas may have limited egress, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a conduit leading into the enclosure, means for supplying the conduit with fire extinguishing fluid which is gaseous at normal atmospheric pressures and temperatures from a supply of the fluid which is in excess of that necessary to establish a fire extinguishing atmosphere in the enclosure, the conduit being constructed and arranged to discharge the fluid at a rate sufiicient to establish quicklysaid'fire extinguishing atmosphere, a normally open valve in the conduit controlling discharge thereof, means normally restraining the flow to said normally open valve but operable to permit such flow when a .fire

In this position, which occurs after the fire extinguishing atmosphere Tie? occurs, time delay means for closing the valve at V a predetermined time interval after admission sufficient to establish 5.

sufficient however to compensate for said egress. 1

3. A fire extinguishing apparatus for protecting an enclosure from which gas may have limited egress, said apparatus comprising, incombination, a conduit leading into the enclosure, means for supplying the conduit with compressed fire extinguishing fluid which is gaseous at normal atmospheric pressures and temperatures from a supply of the fluid which is in excess of that necessary to establish a fire extinguishing atmosphere in the enclosure, the conduit being constructed and arranged to discharge the fluid at a rate sufficient to establish quickly said fire extinguishing atmosphere, a normally open valve controlling the discharge of the conduit, means normally restraining the flow to said normally open valve but operable to permit such flow when a fire occurs, time delay means controlled by pressure of the fluid for closing the valve at a predetermined time after initial discharge of the fluid sufficient to establish said fire extinguishing atmosphere in the enclosure, and means for supplying the enclosure with extinguishing gas for a prolonged period after operation of the timing device at a materially reduced rate sufiicient however to compensate for said egress.

4. A fire extinguishing apparatus for protecting an enclosure from which gas may have limited egress, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a conduit leading into the enclosure, means for supplying the conduit with compressed fire extinguishing fluid which is gaseous at normal atmospheric pressures and temperatures from a supply of the fluid which is in excess of that necessary to establish a fire extinguishing atmosphere in the enclosure, the conduit being constructed and arranged to discharge the fluid at a rate sufficient to establish quickly said fire extinguishing atmosphere, a normally open valve controlling the discharge of the conduit, means normally restraining the flow to said normally open valve but operable to permit such flow when a fire occurs, time delay means controlled by pressure of the fluid for closing the valve at a predetermined time after initial discharge of the fluid suificient to establish said fire extinguishing atmosphere in the enclosure, means for supplying the enclosure with extinguishing gas for a prolonged period after operation of the timing device at a materially reduced rate sufficient however to compensate for said agress, and means for adjusting the timing of the time delay means.

5. A fire extinguishing apparatus for protecting' an enclosure from which gas may have limited egress, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a conduit leading into the enclosure, means'for supplying the conduit with compressed fire extinguishing fluid which is gaseous at normal atmospheric pressures and temperatures from a supply of the fluid which is in excess of that necessary to establish a fire extinguishing atmosphere in the enclosure, the conduit being constructed and arranged to discharge the fluid at a rate sufficient to establish quickly said fire extinguishing atmosphere, a normally open valve controlling the discharge of the conduit, means normally restraining the flow to said normally open valve but operable to permit such flow when a fire occurs, time delay means controlled by pressure of the fluid for closing the valve at a predetermined time after initial discharge of the fluid sufiicient to establish said fire extinguishing atmosphere in the enclosure, means for supplying the enclosure with extinguishing gas for a prolonged period after operation of the timing device at a materially reduced rate sufficient however to compensate for said egress, and means for controlling the pressure supplied to the time delay means.

6. A fire extinguishing apparatus for protecting an enclosure from which gas may have limited egress, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a conduit leading into the enclosure, means for supplying the conduit with fire extinguishing fluid which is gaseous at normal atmospheric pressures and temperatures, the conduit'being constructed and arranged to discharge the fluid at a rate sufficient to establish quickly a fire extinguishing atmosphere in the enclosure, a valve in the conduit controlling discharge thereof, means normally restraining the flow to said normally open valve but operable to permit such flow when a fire occurs, said valve having a large port for the normal passage of fluid therethrough and a small port, and means for operating the valve to cut off the large port and open the small port to the passage of the fluid after a fire extinguishing atmosphere has been established in the enclosure so that the fluid will continue to flow into the enclosure at a materially reduced rate suflicient however to compensate for said egress.

'7. A fire extinguishing apparatus for protecting an enclosure from which gas may have limited egress, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a conduit leading into the enclosure, means for supplying the conduit with compressed fire extinguishing fluid which is gaseous at normal atmospheric pressures and temperatures from a supply of the fluid which is considerably in excess of that necessary toestablish a fire extinguishing atmosphere in the enclosure, the conduit being constructed and arranged to discharge the fluid at a rate sufficient to establish quickly said fire extinguishing atmosphere, a valve in the conduit controlling discharge thereof, means normally restraining the flow to said normally open valve but operable to permit such flow when a fire occurs, said valve having a large port for the normal passage of fluid therethrough and a small port, and time delay means controlled by the pressure of said fluid for operating the valve to close the large port and open the smaller port for passage of fluid therethrough after said fire extinguishing atmosphere has been established so that the fluid will continue to discharge into the enclosure at a materially reduced rate sufficient however to compensate for said egress.

8. A fire extinguishing apparatus for protecting an enclosure from which gas may have limited egress, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a supply of highly compressed fire extinguishing fluid which is gaseous at normal atmospheric pressures and temperatures, said supply being suflicient to establish a fire. extinguishing atmosphere in the enclosure and maintain said atmosphere for a prolonged period, a pair of conduits leading into the enclosure, means for releasing said fluid into theconduits, one of the conduits being constructed and arranged to discharge a large stream of the fluid into the enclosure so as to establish quickly a fire extinguishing atmosphere therein, the other conduit being constructed and arranged to discharge the fluid into the conduit at a reduced rate suificient however to compensate for said egress, a normally open valve controlling the discharge of the larger stream, and means for closing said valve after said fire extinguishing atmosphere has been;

for a prolonged period, a pair of conduits'leading into the enclosure, means for releasing said fluid into the conduits, one of the conduits being constructed and arranged to discharge a large stream of the fluid into the enclosure so as to establish quickly a fire extinguishing atmosphere therein, the other conduit being constructed and arranged to discharge the fluid into the conduit at a reduced rate sufficient however to compensate for said egress, a normally open valve controlling the discharge of the larger stream, and

-means controlled by pressure of the fluid for closing said valve after said fire extinguishing r atmosphere has been established.

10. A fire extinguishing apparatus for protecting an enclosure from which gas may have limited egress, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a supply of highly compressed fire extinguishing fluid which is gaseous at normal atmospheric pressures and temperatures, said supply being sufficient to establish and maintain a fire extinguishing atmosphere in the enclosure for a prolonged period, a conduit system leading into the enclosure, means for releasing said fluid into the conduit system, the, latter being constructed and arranged to 7 into the enclosure so as to establish quickly a fire extinguishing atmosphere therein, a normally open valve in the conduit system, and time delay meanscontrolled by pressure of the fluid in the conduit system for operating the valve after said fire extinguishing atmosphere has been established in the enclosure'to reduce the discharge materially but not below a rate suflicient to compensate. for said egress.

11. A fire extinguishing apparatus for protect-:

ing an enclosure from which gas may have limited egress, said apparatus comprising-in combination, 'tinguishing fluid which is gaseous at normal atmospheric pressures and temperatures, said supply being sufiicient to establish and maintaina fire extinguishing atmosphere in the enclosure for a prolonged period, a conduit system leading into the enclosure, means controlled by temperadischarge fluid rapidly a supply of highly compressed fire ex-' ture conditions in the enclosure for releasing said fluid into. he conduit system, thelatter being constructed and arrangedtodischarge fluid rapidly into the enclosure so as'to establish-quickly a fire extinguishing atmosphere therein, a normallyv open valve in the conduit system, and time de lay means controlled by pressure of the fluid in the conduit, system for operating the valve after said fire extinguishing atmosphere has been established in the enclosure to reduce the discharge materially but not below a rate suflicient to compensate 'for said'egress.

12. A fire extinguishing apparatus for protecting an enclosure from which gas may have limited egress, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a conduit leading intothe enclosure,-means operable when a fire occurs to connect the conduit to a source of fire extinguishing fluid which is gaseousv at normal atmospheric pressuresand temperatures so as to lead said fluid into said enclosure, said source comprising an amount of V the fluid considerably in excess of that necessary to establish a fire extinguishing atmosphere in the enclosure, the conduit being constructed and arranged to discharge said fluid at a rate sufficient to establishequickly saidfire'extinguishing atmosphere in the enclosure, andmeans for materially reducing the rate of discharge from said source after the fire extinguishing atmosphere has been established, the reduced rate of discharge being, suflicient however to compensate for said egress, and time. controlled means for operating the rate reducing means.

7 13. A fire extinguishing apparatus for protecting an enclosure egress, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a conduit leading into the enclosure, means operable when a fire occurs to connect the conduit toa source offire extinguishing fluid which is gaseous, at normal atmospheric pressures and temperatures so as to lead said fluid into said enclosure, said source comprising an amount of the fluidconsiderably in excess of that necessary from which gas may have limited ranged to discharge said fluid at a rate sufficient to establish quickly said fire extinguishing atmosphere in the enclosure, and means constructedv and arranged to' terminate such rapid discharge after the fire extinguishingatmosphere has been established and to substitutetherefor a materially reduced discharge from said sourcesuflicient however to compensate for said egress.

sco'rr E. ALLEN. 

